The 4-year-old and 28-year-old were found buried in the back yard of a home on Ashe Street in June. Autopsy results released last week showed both had been shot in the head.

Seven people have been charged with their murders, including the leader of the so-called Black Hebrews cult - 27-year-old Peter Moses - and Higganbothan's mother.

The district attorney's office has requested the delay in releasing the remains partly because of an unrelated murder case that was dismissed because remains were released to a family and then cremated before defense attorneys had a chance to examine them.

Defense attorneys have until next Friday to review their paperwork - figure out if any additional testing needs to be done - then a judge will have to decide the bodies can be released.